Switches



Feb. 2, 1960 o. 1.. NELSON 2,923,787

7 SWITCHES Filed April 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 3

/ 50 1; 56 08W 613%. /0 I BY i h m fi United States Patent O SWITCHES Oscar L. Nelson, Angola, Ind.

Application April 4, 1957, Serial No. 650,625 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-67) This invention relates to the class of electrical switches and more particularly to novel concepts in spring construction in switches.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel switch employing a unique spring arrangement for making and breaking contact.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel snap action switch which is substantially foolproof in operation and extremely durable while being inexpensive to manufacture and easy to construct.

Another important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a switch employing a spring which will hold the movable contacts in engagement with fixed contacts so that as soon as the switch is released, the springs willv disengage the movable contact from the fixed contacts without any further operation of the switch.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of electrical switches constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention which are capable'of being contained in an insulative plastic housing of simple construction, which employ either push-button or toggle actuators, and which are capable of being manufactured in any desired size and adaptable for varied purposes.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by these switches, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a toggle switch constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention illustrating the switch in an initial position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but illustrating the switch in a position after actuation;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through a pushbutton switch prior to actuation thereof;

Figure 5 is a'sectional view similar to that of Figure 4 illustrating the switch after actuation;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 6-6 in Figure 4; and

Figure 7"is a horizontal sectional view as taken along the plane of line 77 in Figure 6 illustrating in particular details of construction of the actuator and springs.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and with initial attention directed to the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 through 3, reference numeral 10 generally designates a housing constructed of a suitable insulative plastic material such as Bakelite or the like having pairs of contacts indicated at 12, 14, 16 and 18 secured thereto forming terminals to which conductors may readily be attached. These fixed contacts are arranged on the tapered surfaces 2,923,787 Patented Feb. 2, 1960 20 and 22 of the tapered side walls 24 and 26 of the housing.

' 'The housing 10 may be provided with any desired closure or top 30 which has an opening 32 through which an actuation member 34 extends. The actuation member 34 is pivoted as at 36 to the housing and has a recess 38 in the portion 40 disposed within the housing with the recess 38 forming cam surfaces for engaging the arcuate portion 42 of a spring 44 having complementary bowed portions 46 and 48 as well as an end portion 50 disposed within a notch 52 in the housing 10.

The spring carries contacts 54 and 56 bridged by a bar 58 and insulated as at 60 if desired from the spring portion 46 so as to complete an operative electrical circuit from the contact 12 to the contact 14. Likewise contacts 16 and 18 can be bridged by the movable contacts 62 and 64 joined by bar 66 and insulated as at 68 from. the spring 48. Of course, if desired, the insulation 68 and 60 can be eliminated in some arrangements.

In use, actuation of the toggle-like actuation mem ber 34 will cause the spring to shift from the position as is shown in Figure 1 to the position as is shown in Figure 2. Due to the fact that the spring will be compressed when it is in a center position, the switch will function as a snap action type switch. This is because of the cam like action of the surfaces 70 formed by the recess 38 on the toggle actuation member 34.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention as is shown in Figures 4 through 7, reference numeral 80 generally designates the housing which may be formed in two portions as at 82 and 84 joined together by suitable fasteners 86. Secured to the housing are terminals 88 and 90 it being noted that another set of terminals shown schematically at 92 and 94 may be employed if such is desired. In order to complete an operative electrical circuit from the contact 88 to the contact 90 there is provided the movable contacts 96 and 98 bridged by a bar 100 which may be insulated by a member 102 from the portion 104 of the spring 106 having a portion 108 complementary to the portion 104. The spring has one end thereof seated Within a notch 110 in the housing 80 while the other end of the spring is seated within a notch 112 in an actuation member 114. Two

construction having a shank 118 forming a push-button outwardly of the casing, the actuation member extending through an opening 120 in the casing. Of course, any suitable number of recesses 112 may be provided in the actuation member 114 as desired and an equal number of notches 110 are formed in the housing. The actuation member 114 is provided with tongues 124 and 126 thereon which seat within grooves 128 and 130 formed in the side walls of the housing 80. Hence, the movement of the actuation member 114 is constrained. Stops are provided by shoulders 134 and 136 for limiting the lowermost position of the actuator. When the actuator is moved from the position as is shown in Figure 4 to the position as is shown in Figure 5, the spring 106 is placed under stress bowing the spring even further and causing the contacts 96 and 98 to engage the contacts 88 and 90 respectively while if such are provided causing the contacts 140 and 142 to engage the contacts 92 and 94. Of course, if pairs of springs are utilized the device may be utilized to complete operative electrical circuits between other pairs of contacts.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A switch comprising an insulative housing having an opening therein, an actuation member movably positioned in said housing and extending through said opening, a spring disposed in said housing resiliently engaging said housing and said actuation member, said spring including two complementary outwardly bowed portions, fixed contacts in said housing, and movable contacts on said spring engageable with said fixed contacts, said actuation member being pivoted to said housing and having a recess therein receiving an arcuate upper portion of said spring.

2. A manual switch comprising an insulative housing having an opening therein, an actuation member manually movably positioned in said housing and extending through said opening, a spring disposed in said housing resiliently engaging said housing and said actuation member, said spring including two complementary outwardly bowed portions, fixed contacts in said housing, and movable contacts on said spring engageable with said fixed contacts, said actuation member being substantially T-shaped and having a notch therein receiving an end portion of said spring, said housing having grooves therein, said actuation member having tongues riding in said grooves.

3. A switch comprising an insulative housing having an opening therein, an actuation member movably positioned in said housing and extending through said opening, a spring disposed in said housing resiliently engaging said housing and said actuation member, said spring including two complementary outwardly bowed portions, fixed contacts in said housing, and movable contacts on said spring engageable with said fixed contacts, said housing having upwardly tapering side walls, said fixed contacts being secured to said side walls, said spring being stressed when centrally disposed between said side walls with said movable contacts out of engagement with fixed contacts.

4. A manual switch comprising an insulative housing having an opening therein, an actuation member manually movably positioned in said housing and extending through said opening, a spring disposed in said housing resiliently engaging said housing and said actuation member, said spring including two complementary outwardly bowed portions, fixed contacts in said housing, and movable contacts on said spring engageable with said fixed contacts, said actuation member being substantially T-shaped and having a notch therein receiving an end portion of said spring, said housing having grooves therein, said actuation member having tongues riding in said grooves, said housing being provided with a notch therein, the end of said spring remote from said actuation member being disposed in said notch in said housing, said spring being stressed when said actuation member is moved inwardly of said housing, said movable contacts engaging said fixed contacts only when said spring is under stress.

5. A manual switch comprising an insulative housing having an opening therein, an actuation member manually movably positioned in said housing and extending through said opening, a spring disposed in said housing resiliently engaging said housing and said actuation member, said spring including two complementary outwardly bowed portions, fixed contacts in said housing, means communicating said fixed contacts exteriorly of said housing, movable contacts ailixed to each of said outwardly bowed portions, a conductive bridge member electrically conn cting said movable contacts, said movable and fixed contacts being aligned to contact each other to complete an electrical circuit across said fixed contacts, said housing being provided with a notch therein, the end of said spring remote from said actuation member being disposed in said notch in said housing. I

6. A manually operable switch comprising a closed housing having a singular opening therein, an actuation member manually movably positioned in said housing and having a first portion extending through said opening, a flange portion fixed perpendicularly to said first portion and carried by said first portion in said housing, tongues carried by said flange portion, groove in said housing, said tongues adapted to ride in said grooves, a spring disposed in said housing resiliently engaging said housing and said actuation member, said spring including two complementary outwardly bowed portions, a plurality of pairs of fixed contacts carried by and within said housing, means communicating said fixed contacts exteriorly of said housing, a plurality of movable contacts afiixed to each of said outwardly bowedportions, a plurality of conductive bridge members electrically carried by said outwardly bowed portions, each of said bridge members connected between two of said movable contacts for form ing a plurality of pairs of movable contacts, said pair of movable contacts and said pairs of fixed contacts being aligned to contact each other to complete an electrical circuit across said fixed contacts, said housing being provided with a notch therein, the end of said spring remote from actuation member being disposed in said notch in said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,501,019 Lippincott July 8, 1924 1,676,155 Pfeifer July 3, 1928 1,680,428 Mottlau Aug. 14, 1928 1,733,085 Thomas Oct. 22, 1929 2,238,621 Bletz Apr. 15, 1941 2,255,330 Platz Sept. 9, 1941 2,583,756 Wahlbert Jan. 29, 1952 2,673,468 lmmel et a1 Mar. 30, 1954 

